Billing code 47610: Gallbladder surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports open gallbladder removal combined with exploration of the common bile duct, typically when stones or another obstruction require operative duct evaluation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 47610 in Illinois.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 47610 covers
This code describes open removal of the gallbladder with surgical exploration of the common bile duct during the same operation. General surgeons commonly perform it in a hospital operating room when suspected or confirmed duct stones, such as choledocholithiasis, require direct operative evaluation or treatment in addition to cholecystectomy. It is distinct from gallbladder removal alone and from laparoscopic procedures.
Report it when the operative record supports both gallbladder removal and common duct exploration. Documentation should identify the reason for duct exploration and the work performed, such as opening or inspecting the duct and addressing an obstruction. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Team surgery is not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 47610 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $1,409.30 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $1,327.99 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $1,245.94 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $1,323.65 |
How the 47610 rate is calculated
Each of 47610’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 47610
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.40Practice expense 9.44Malpractice 5.30
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 47610
47610 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 47610
Gallbladder surgery
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 47610
Gallbladder surgery
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
47610 without 51 · national facility
$1,173.71
Gallbladder surgery
47610-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$586.86
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
47610 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
47610 vs 47600 vs 47605 vs 47564: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 47600Gallbladder removal
- Use 47600 for open gallbladder removal without common duct exploration. The added duct exploration distinguishes 47610.
- 47605Cholecystectomy
- 47605 includes cholangiography with open gallbladder removal; 47610 represents common duct exploration, not simply imaging of the ducts.
- 47564Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- 47564 describes laparoscopic cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration. Choose 47610 for the open approach when the documented work supports it.
47610 billing questions
How does this differ from 47600?
47600 describes open gallbladder removal without common duct exploration. Use 47610 when the operative service also includes exploration of the common bile duct.
Is this the code for laparoscopic duct exploration?
No. This code describes the open operation. For laparoscopic cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration, consider 47564 when the documented procedure matches that service.
Does gallbladder removal alone support 47610?
No. The operative documentation must support common duct exploration in addition to gallbladder removal.
What is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. The code is treated as major surgery.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction when performed in the same session.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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